Rare Antique 1896 Smith Premier No 2 Typewriter & Case Double Keyboard 15"

Description

Late 19th century Smith Premier No. 2 typewriter and case. Black painted metal body with gold and blue details. Upper case keyboard in black keys. Lower case keyboard in white keys. An early run Serial Number 12397 (engraved on band around type basket) dates this machine to 1896. Case consists of a wooden base and black metal cover with gold painted details and turned wood bail handle.

"The Smith Premier No 2 typewriter has two full keyboards – one set for upper case and one set for lower case letters. This is an understroke typewriter whereby the slugs strike the platen from the underside making seeing what you type as you type very difficult. The Smith Premier No 2 first appeared in 1896. No 2s ran from around 1896 through 1914. It wasn’t until 1908 that Smith Premier introduced the No 10, the only full-keyboard frontstroke typewriter ever made." (Sources: Old Bob's Old Typewriters / The Typewriter Database)

Condition

Good Overall - Wear to paint / rust / some dents / marks to cover; some keys stick; general wear/surface rust / could use cleaning / restoration.

Dimensions

14" x 14.5" x 11.5" (Width x Depth x Height)